Rutgers Football: Tom Savage Will Transfer, According To Greg Schiano

Greg Schiano confirmed today that Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage will seek to transfer for the upcoming football season.

Being unseated for the starting quarterback job by underclassman Chas Dodd, and the spectre of the third offensive coordinator Savage has seen since his recruitment, the transfer decision certainly makes sense.

Savage had every right to be upset at the way he was treated this season. He was injured, and then when he was ready to play, benched in favor of Chas Dodd and never really given a chance to win his job back.

However, the new offensive coordinator, Frank Cignetti (formerly of Pittsburgh) runs a pro-style set that seemed conducive for Savage's success.

When Savage first came to Rutgers, he took the starting job away from Dom Natale in an opening day blowout loss to Cincinnati.

In that game, Savage, in a relief role, led the Knights on an impressive fourth quarter drive for a touchdown.

Savage never looked back that season, leading the Knights to an 8-4 regular season record and a bowl victory over Central Florida.

It seemed like Savage would take the next step this season. However, the signal-caller and the rest of the RU offense struggled mightily in the season's first few weeks.

The only signs of life for the Rutgers offense came when Chas Dodd was at the helm.

On the impending transfer, Schiano said, "We wish Tom the best in his future endeavors."

Schiano said what he had to say publicly, but there were signs that the head football coach wasn't convinced Savage would rise to stardom with Rutgers.

Schiano recruited Chas Dodd hard, making two recruiting visits to South Carolina to try to woo the young quarterback. The Knights obviously needed a backup to Savage; Dodd was awarded the starting job mid-season.

It has been speculated that Tom Savage's father was unhappy at the way his son was treated. He stated that Rutgers "went with the kid [Dodd] when he had the hot hand," but said that the starting job "should have been" reclaimed by Savage when Dodd started to slow down.

It has also been speculated that the father had "gotten into it" with some fans who were booing and deriding Tom during a game.

Finally, his father said Tom is "willing to compete" for a starting job.

This is a statement with which I have major problems. Greg Schiano has always stated that every position on his team is an open competition. It was obvious that there was to be a quarterback competition in spring practice. A competition in which he would have had a leg-up with his size and skill-set in the pro-style offense.

Savage ran from that competition.

I am not sure how that could possibly sit well with a school who may be re-recruiting him for their roster.